Bangkok prepares for intriguing battles

Of all 33 Bangkok constituencies, Constituency 12 is one that promises plenty of political action.

It will be contested by Pheu Thai's Karun Hosakul and the Democrat's Tankhun Jitt-itsara.
The former is a hard-core red shirt supporter and the latter a staunch critic of the red shirts' patron.
To political pundits, Mr Karun is a clear favourite to win the July 3 poll. Mr Tankhun is just a new kid in the neighbourhood.
Mr Karun, also known as Keng Don Muang, is a two-time winner in the district council election in Don Muang. His debut in national politics under the now-defunct People Power Party was an easy victory.
Mr Karun's political clout has grown over the years as his family has a well-anchored political base in the district.
His opponent, Mr Tankhun, on the other hand, is a former host of television game shows who has shot to fame by hosting political talk shows criticising ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra before and after the latter was uprooted from power.
There was no love lost between Mr Tankhun and red shirt supporters before he decided to enter politics. And now he is running on the Democrat ticket, the political temperature in Don Muang is rising.
However, Mr Karun has described it as a mismatch.
"I don't see him even as an opponent. I'd have worried if it was someone else," he said.
Mr Karun said his years of service and dedication to constituents and his involvement in red shirt rallies give him 100% confidence in winning the poll.
"Who is he to say others are black [bad] and he is white [good]? He should beware that it is easy for white to get dirty," he said.
Mr Tankhun is not intimidated even though sometimes he is greeted with boos and jeers and feet clappers, a symbol of the red shirt movement. He has been doing campaign work in the area for almost a year.
"I'm not afraid of his political clout. I never see him as an enemy. I have followed advice of senior party members. Be polite and gentle and never speak useless things," he said.
Mr Tankhun has rejected a rumour that he volunteered to run in this constituency because defeating Mr Karun is a fast track to fame.
Constituency 16 is also another contest to watch.
It is expected to be a tight race between Pheu Thai's Polphum Wipatphumprathes and the Democrat's Panich Vikitsreth.
Mr Polphum resigned as a district councillor to run in the election.
"If I was not confident of winning, I would not have stepped down and left my three years in office behind," he said.
As a former deputy governor of Bangkok, Mr Panich considers himself a veteran of Bangkok affairs and knows enough to represent the constituency.
Mr Panich, who was convicted of illegal entry by a Cambodia court, said he prefers not to discuss the episode in the campaign.
While Constituency 15 is unlikely to be action-packed, the stakes are also high.
It features the Democrat's Nat Bantadthan, son of former Democrat leader Banyat, against Pakdiharn Himathongkham, a former actor.
Moreover, all two seats in the district council in the constituency are held by the Democrat Party.
"I'm not concerned at all that he is the son of Khun Banyat. He is not from around here," Mr Pakdiharn said.
Mr Pakdiharn is a former district councillor in Wang Thonglang district and a unsuccessful candidate in that constituency.